Old Skool

Some of you will no doubt have had this brought to your attention already thanks to WML. However if you prefer not to have your inbox filled with every nuance of all that is WFC-related then it may have passed you by.

This first video shows Watford manager Ken Furphy giving a team talk during the lead up to an FA Cup 4th Round tie against European Champions Man Yoo in 1969. Apparently it was the first time that a manager had allowed TV cameras in to watch a team talk. Ken Furphy was one of the brightest managerial prospects in the game at the time; he led Watford to promotion that season to Division 2 for the first time in our history. The next season he took us to the FA Cup semi-final for the first time.

So this is 3rd division Watford taking on United, European champions in the FA cup 4th round at a packed Old Trafford. Check out the player having a fag at the back of the room - those were the days!

Then these are the goals from the game. The team talk inspired Watford to a 1-1 draw courtesy of a Stewart Scullion screamer (check Charlton's lazy defending - Ken was right) and a scrappy equaliser from Dennis Law. The surge of the crowd for the equaliser is amazing.

Sadly, United went on to win the reply 2-0 at Vicarage Road. We would get our own back 9 years later when, still as a third division side, we went to Old Trafford in the league cup and won 1-2, with Luther getting both the goals. Now those really were the days!

Thanks to Stevohorn in Norway for posting these up on Youtube. Go visit his youtube site; he has some other gems that'll make your eyes fill with nostalgic tears.